Hearth vent and ash dump combination



Jan. 14, 1958 A. P. ROBINSON HEARTH VENT AND ASH DUMP COMBINATION Filed Jan. 24, 1955 5 7. N W 3 2 y m m T w m E m 0 r m m I P Y T \\m m\\\\\\\\\\i\\\\\\ w HEARTH VENT AND ASH DUMP COMBINATION Albert 1. Robinson, Seattle, Wash.

Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,747

3 Claims. (Cl. 126-143) This invention relates to improvements in fireplace construction, and it pertains more particularly to the details of construction and mode of use of a fireplace hearth air vent.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an open fireplace, equipped with a hearth vent, located in position at which it will be directly below the burning fuel as contained in the fireplace, thus to furnish air from outside the room as an aid to combustion for better burning and heating etficiency.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hearth vent of the character above stated, through which ashes from the fireplace may be dumped into an ash pit below the hearth, and through which air may be admitted under control of a door that it pivoted for easy adjustment between open and closed positions and which door is overlaid by a grate whereby the burning fuel will normally be retained against dropping through the vent or air passage to the ash pit.

It is a further object of the invention to provide, as a combination, an air vent door and grate, each adjustably mounted in a frame that is designed to be set down with in the fireplace hearth, flush with its top surface; said frame defining an air venting and ash dumping passage into the ash pit, and to provide the ash pit with an outside air inlet through which fresh air may be admitted for supplying the fireplace through the hearth vent whenever such is desired.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the details of construction of the frame, or housing, which defines the air passage and in which the grate and air vent door are mounted, and in the details of the grate and vent door and in their relationship to each other as applied to the frame.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, 1 have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a residential fireplace of typical construction, showing it as equipped with a hearth vent embodying the improvements of the present invention therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view through the hearth vent frame, door and grate, and showing the vent door closed and the grate in its normal position of use; the section being taken substantially on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top, or plan view of the frame, with grate and air vent door applied thereto, and each in closed posi tion.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, showing the air vent door in its open position and the grate as raised for the disposal of ashes through the open vent to the ash pit below.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the present frame, grate and vent door as assembled in use, showing the vent door closed and the grate lifted to its open position.

2,819,711 Patented Jan. 14, 195.8

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing a grate pivot or trunnion as contained in its seat.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated a typical fireplace construe tion in which 10 designates the back wall of the fireplace combustion chamber, 11 the combustion chamber, 12 the throat passage that opens from the chamber into the chimney flue 13, and 14 the hearth or floor of the fireplace. Beneath the hearth 14 is an ash pit 15; this being closed as required to retain the ashes, and equipped near the top with an inlet 16 through which outside air may be admitted to the pit for flow therefrom to the combustion chamber 11 through the hearth vent of this invention presently to be described.

Set within the hearth, or floor 14, is a rectangular, metal housing, designated in its entirety by numeral 20, whereby a passage between the fireplace chamber 11 and the pit 15 is defined; this housing preferably being located in the hearth near the back wall 10 of the chamber 11, and midway between opposite sidewalls thereof. This frame comprises the opposite sidewalls 21 and 21, as best shown in Fig. 2, and opposite end walls 22 and 22', as seen in Fig. 4. These four walls are joined in a one-piece casting, and are in downwardly converging relationship to provide a housing of hopper form. It is to be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that the sidewalls 21--21 are thickened along their top edges and these parts are formed with vertical inside surfaces 21x. At their lower edges, the sidewalls are likewise formed with vertical inside surfaces as at 21y.

It is shown in Fig. 4 that the end walls 22 and 22' of. the frame are also thickened along their top edges, and these parts are formed with vertical inside surfaces 22x, and that the back wall 22 terminates in an inturned, horizontal flange 22; that is located somewhat above the level of the lower edge of the opposite wall 22. integrally cast with the end walls 2222 and in laterally spaced relationship thereon, are vertical flanges 25, as seen in Fig. 5, which are adapted to be embedded in the masonry of the hearth to betterretain the housing in position, and also to serve as means for limiting the extent to which frames of this kind can be nested when stacked and nested for storage or shipments.

The opposite vertical surfaces 21x and 22x which bound the upper end of the passage as defined by the frame, provide a rectangular enclosure within which a grate 30 is located. This grate is a single metal plate, formed with a series of parallel slots 31 opening therethrough. Extending from opposite side edges of the grate, near its rear edge, are trunnions 3232. These are axially aligned and are pivotally contained in seats 33-33 formed in the opposite sidewalls of the frame. The forward edge of this grate is adapted to be swung upwardly about the trunnions from the horizontal position of Fig. l, to the substantially upright position of Fig. 4. The trunnions, as seen in Fig. 6, are formed with projections, as at 35 which'will engage with vertical surfaces of the sockets which form the seats 33 to limit the rearward swing of the grate at a position slightly over dead center. When the grate is in its lowered, or closed position of Fig. 1, it is flush with the hearth surface, and it rests at its forward corners on lugs 38 that are cast in the forward corner portions of the frame, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The lower end of the passage as formed by the four downwardly converging walls of the frame, is equipped with a closure plate or damper 40. This is designed to be supported in a horizontal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to close the passage against a free inflow of air from the pit 15 to the combustion chamber. For this support it is equipped at opposite side edges with axially aligned supporting trunnions 41-41, that are pivotally contained inseam 42-42 provided therefor in the lower portions of the'sidewalls of the frame, as observed in Fig. 2. The trunnions 41 are located substantially closer to the forward, edge of the plate than to the back edge, and the plate is formed across its forward edge with a heavy flange or head 43, as shown in Fig. 4 which will, by reason of its weight, hold the plate in horizontal position once it is moved to that position. However, ifit is desired to admit outside air to the fireplace, through the. hearth vent, the plate 40 is swung about its supporting trunnions to the vertical position in which it is shown in Fig. 4, and it will then remain in this position under the weight of a flange .5 that is formed on and extends at right. angles to the plate from its topside, at the line of. the trunnions.

This flange 46, as will, be, understoodby reference. to the showing in Eigsl and 2,.is adaptedto be engaged by the end of a fireplace pokensuch as designated. at P, to swing the plate40 from closed to. open. position, or vice yersa. The. trunnions ot the plate til may be. formed with Pl'fikcfious, to engage, the sidewalls of their containing seats, like the. showing in Fig. 6,. thus to. establish. the closing and. Opening limits of the plate or dampen. In order thatthe damper plate 40. may not. be. accidentally displaced from position by reason of its. adjustment. betweenopen and closed positiona crossbar 4l3-is integrally castwith the frame, transversely of the passage as shown inFigs, 4 and S and. just rearwardly of the seats as pro.- vided for the trunnions, 41., When. the; plate swings upward to closed position, it engages against this crossbar as in Fig. 1.

Itwill be understood that with. the hearth ventapplied to, the fireplace structure as. seen inl iig. 1, outside air. can enter the ash pit through the opening 16.. Then,. if the damper plate iii-is moved to the open position, asseen in Fig. 4, freshair can pass from the pit, upwardly through thevent and grate, to the fireplace as. an aid. totuel combustion. If the door 40 is, closed, as in. Fig.1, this free inflow of air is stopped.

Should it be desired to clear the fireplace of ashes, the door 40 and grate; are both opened,,astshown inFig, 4, andthe ashes may be moved through the hearth vent. to. the pit.

The advantages of having such a hearth ventfor. sup.- plying, air to the fire are-well, established and. notquestipned. It is economical, as it aflords rneansfor the producing much heat from a minimum offuel because of ipsuringitscompletecombustion. It compensates for the all encein present dayresidence. construction. of. means for the admittance of sufiicientair. to the, rooms for proper.- outflow of'smoke and fumesfrom the fireplace withoutnecessitatingthe opening of a door or window. It climinatesfireplacesmoking and out-.pufiing of smokedueto. down-draft, and it makes possible, the burningof fuel. that otherwise would be difficult to burn in a fireplace. under normal conditions.

While I have herein shownthe grate.30.and. door 40. as being mounted in the same rame. structure, it isantici pated that they may be mountedin different frames or even be mounted independently. of eachother in the ma:

SOnry to provide-the same combinationltis .the. specific.

combinationof grate and ash dump door as used below the grate, in which invention is believedv toreside: and.

therefore it is not desired to confine theclaimstonlytoacombination that includes a frame structure that iscommen to both grateand door.

The combination of theseparts in- .anair vent as shown.-

provides, for admittance of air to, afire ata point that is CIT most advantageous and eliminates the difficulties and dis advantages of maintaining a fire in a fireplace that opens into a closed room.

When the fireplace is not in use, the ash dump door 40 can be closed to prevent up-draft drawing air up through the grate and blowing ashes into the room.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A hearthvent and ash dump combination comprising a frame structure adapted to be set within the hearth of a fireplace combustion chamber to define a vertically directed passage for the dumping of fireplace ashes, to a pit below the hearth, and for an inflow of air to the fireplace chamber from the pit, a grate supported by the frame across the upper end of the passage, for adjustment from a position flush with the hearth surface to a raised position, for the disposal of ashes through the passage, and a door disposediwithin the lower end of thepassage for. closingit againstaninfiow of air, and having:supporting trunnions on which it can be swung, independently of the grate from its closed position to an open position for an inflow of air through the passage and grate;,said door being weighted at one edge to cause it to be yieldingly retained in closed position whenmoved tothat' position, and to be yieldingly retained in its open position when adjusted to that position.

2. A hearth vent and ash dump combination comprise ing a' rectangular frame structure designedto be set'down within the hearth'portion of a fireplace combustion chamber to define a passage therethrough for the disposal of fireplace ashes to'an ash pit below'the hearth, and for an inflow of air into-the fireplace chamber; said frame hav ing its walls downwardly converging to provide apassage of hopper form; saidframe being provided in the top edges ofits-opposite side portions with aligned upwardly opening trunnion seats, and in said side portions, near the lower end of the passage with aligned trunnion seats, a grate disposed in the upper end of said passage having supporting trunnions projecting therefrom and disposed in the first mentioned trunnionsscats to support the: grate for swinging between closed and open positions,.a' door disposedinthe lower end of the passage and havingitrunnions projecting from its opposite sides disposedin the second mentionedtrunnion seats to support the door for swinging between a horizontal, passage closing position to averticahopen position; said door being weighted: at one edge. in a manner: to retain it at either of the positions towhich itmay be adjusted, and there being a dange ex' tended fromthedoor that is accessible throughthe'closed' grate for the manual adjustment of the door from one position to another.

3. A combination'as recited in clairn2- wherein: the trunnions of door andtgrate have projections at one side engageable. with side surfaces of the seatsto'limit the opening movements-ofthe door and grate.

Referencesicited in the file of-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,035 Merrick Apr. 12'', I881 531,678 Gould'et'al Jan. 1, ,1895- 1,281,902 Home Oct; 15, 19:18 1,389,516 Killen Aug. 30, 1921' 2,013,704 Walker Sept. 10, 1935 FQREIGN- PATENTS 211,628 Great Britain- Feb. 28E 1924 112,561 Australia Feb. 14, 19 41" 

